Removals to Morocco
With White & Company, relocating to Morocco is simple. Complete our online form or call 01489 858716 for a free moving quotation.
Shipping to Morocco
Are you in the process of planning a move to Morocco but are not sure how to go about shipping your personal belongings? Moving to a new city is never easy, let alone a new country where there are linguistic and cultural hurdles to overcome.
You’ll want to know that your personal belongings are being handled with the utmost care and that their delivery is carefully and precisely planned out. White & Company have been relocating people to Morocco and destinations worldwide for over 80 years and have moved just about everything there is to move.
With bespoke storage and packing services available to match your needs our extensive door-to-door shipping and freight services are hard to beat. So whether you are moving from Middlesbrough to Marrakesh, or Cardiff to Casablanca, White & Company can ensure that your personal effects are handled with care from collection in the UK right through to delivery at your new home in Morocco.
Survey
Our experienced surveyor will visit your home to conduct a pre-move survey to ascertain the volume of effects being shipped. This involves a surveyor walking through the property room by room noting what items are to be exported and recording it on their electronic tablet. A written quotation will follow within 48 hours.
Storage
White & Company has storage facilities at 19 storage locations throughout the UK all providing secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers. Our trusted partners in Morocco are also able to offer storage should you require it.
Packing
When our quotation has been accepted and a move date has been secured, the vehicle and removal team will arrive at your home. The removal team will proceed to export pack and wrap all items being shipped and load them onto a suitable vehicle for delivery to our closest depot, or for full loads to your home in Morocco.
Shipping
Upon arrival at your local depot all effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container. The container is booked with the shipping line onto the first available vessel destined to the closest port of entry to your final destination in Morocco.
Moving to Morocco? Get a Quick Quote
Why Move to Morocco?
Bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Sahara Desert, Morocco is an enchanting country sat just below Spain, providing an accessible gateway between the worlds of Europe and Africa. This unique axis point has created a culturally diverse population with a rich infusion of Berber, Arabian and European influences. Although predominately an Islamic country Morocco’s economic and social outlook is seen as increasingly more liberal than its neighbouring countries.
The Moroccan economy is based principally on agriculture, fishing, mining and tourism with international visits to the imperial cities of Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes and Rabat steadily increasing year-on-year. The medinas of each are densely packed, walled medieval cities with winding alleyways and thriving market places where you can haggle for all manner of eloquently made textiles, fabrics, pots and jewellery. Riads offer peace and tranquillity from these environments within the city restraints with afternoon tea and Moroccan tagine delicacies aplenty.
For an escape from the cities discover the Atlas Mountains where you can hike or take a guided quad bike tour across the desert before camping out underneath the stars. For early risers, you can even take flight in an air balloon which offers stunning panoramic views of the desert surrounds. A visit to the local hammam (bathhouse) for a soak and spa treatment after can leave you feeling rejuvenated and replenished and may even become a regular ritual in time.
For these reasons the country has mainly attracted retirees and digital nomads looking to enjoy the low cost of living and reasonable property prices. The standard of living is however considerably lower than what most Britons and other westerners are accustom to and while generally thought of as safe, the country still experiences some degree of economic and social upheaval. Living in an Islamic country also comes with several cultural norms and expectations that you will have to adapt to.
While fixed employment is scarce and there are some cultural practices to get to grips with, most expats find life in Morocco an enriching and altogether rewarding experience with many staying far longer than they had originally intended. With some stunning architecture and picturesque landscapes to explore and some of the world’s finest cuisine on offer at rock bottom prices, its hard to find a reason not to fall in love with the Moroccan metropolises.
Working in Morocco
Morocco’s economy is growing rapidly and the country had a GDP of over $100bn in 2016 which has resulted in an increase in employment opportunities. Outside of tourism the areas of mining, construction and manufacturing have traditionally been the largest employers in Morocco, however in recent years telecoms, information technology, and textiles have become huge and offer job seekers some of the best opportunities for employment.
The official language is Arabic, with French being more commonly used in business. Most of the expat community live in the densely populated city of Marrakesh and consist primarily of expats of French or Spanish descent. Many expats will seek employment in the engineering, teaching and tourism fields or undertake humanitarian work. Morocco is also popular with retirees due to its warm climate and low cost of living.
Visas
Unless you are recruited by a company in Morocco, you cannot get anything more permanent than a 3-month tourist visa from outside the country. Getting a permanent residency card called a (carte de séjour) can be complicated but not unachievable. It is normally granted initially for a period of one year. After the first year it can be extended annually or for 5 or 10 years. The card gives you legal permission to live in Morocco.
Visit the following web sites for further information on employment opportunities in Morocco:
http://www.visahunter.com/articles/how-to-find-a-job
https://www.bayt.com/en/morocco/jobs
https://www.internations.org/morocco-expats
Property
Most expats can purchase property in Morocco without much difficulty. It is best to work with a lawyer and a reputable real estate agent in order to navigate the process, particularly if you have little or only basic knowledge of Arabic and French.
There are plenty of properties for sale or rent and the prices are very reasonable. You can purchase a 5 bedroomed villa in Marrakech-tensift-al Haouz for MAD 5101 (£403,000). A two bedroomed apartment in the same town costs approximately MAD 1376 (£108,000).
Renting can also be a viable option for those expats only intending to live in Morocco short term or perhaps you intend to try out an area first before they buy property in it. A one bedroomed apartment in Marakesh would cost approximately MAD 3335 (£263) per month. On the outskirts of the city a similar property costs around MAD 1884 (£148).
The following sites have a selection of homes for sale or rent:
www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-morocco-renting-property
www.expat.com/en/housing/africa/morocco/flats-for-rent.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/overseas-property/in-Morocco.html
General Information
Moving to Morocco is a thrilling opportunity, but also one that requires dedication, plenty of organisation and time to research.
For some helpful tips and information on settling into life in Morocco, visit some of the many expat forums online:
https://www.expatexchange.com/morocco/liveinmorocco.html
www.expat.com/en/destination/africa/morocco
https://www.expatinmorocco.com/
Travel
Morocco may be a short boat ride from Spain but it is world away in terms of transport with camels and donkeys still proving popular means of transportation! Moroccan public transport is pretty good on the whole however and there are also busses, trains and taxis to get you from A to B and everywhere in between.
When travelling cross-country, trains are the most popular method of getting around. They are fast, reliable and far less crowded than other means of transportation. Bus services are also reliable and cheaper than taxis, however, they do tend to become very full. There are luxury busses too. Although a little more expensive than regular busses, they reach more towns and cities than taxis and the normal bus service.
If you are going to be driving, be aware that the road signs are in Arabic and French only and the speed limit is strictly enforced, especially the 40kph in towns and on dangerous intersections where fines are imposed on the spot.
Healthcare
The Moroccan healthcare system is theoretically universal and comprehensive, however in reality having access to a high quality of care is not guaranteed. There is a shortage of staff, waiting lists, lack of modern equipment and many buildings are poorly maintained. Those who can afford it seek care abroad for more severe illnesses.
Expats are advised to take out comprehensive private health insurance. Private insurance is typically offered through large and international corporations for those able to afford coverage payments.
Below are a few companies offering cover in Morocco:
Pacific Prime International – www.pacificprime.com
Cigna – https://www.cignaglobal.com/
AXA PPP International – https://www.axapppinternational.com
Shipping My Effects to Morocco
The whole moving experience can be incredibly stressful, especially so when relocating abroad. White & Company, with its 145 years of experience in the removal industry, can help make the process a lot less traumatic.
White & Company move thousands of families around the globe each year and have branches all over the UK. We can arrange a free no obligation home survey and quotation. This will be carried out by one of our qualified surveyors, who will be able to answer any of the questions and concerns you may have and offer advice where necessary.
The purpose of the survey is to determine the volume of effects you will be shipping. The cost of shipment is based on the space your effects will take up in our vehicle if transportation is by road and in a container if being shipped by sea. Following the visit, you will receive a written quotation.
White & Company
Providing International Removals since 1871
We recommend a visit from one of our Surveyors for all International moves, so that we can assess your requirements, and the volume of goods to be moved.
Below is a rough guide to the largest cities in Morocco:
Agadir
Casablanca
Marrakesh
Meknes
Rabat
Tangier
What Others Say…
Wayne Middleton and Brian Witherford were professional and extremely helpful. Did a brilliant job. Would recommend Whites to anyone. Thanks very much.
Have used this company regularly for 5 years including my time in the armed forces. They are professional and efficient. Will use them again on our next move.
The move went very smoothly and they were very polite.
A very smooth move by White and Co. The team worked very hard and were polite, professional and helpful.
